The Balance Beam of Righteousness - March 25, 2016 (Meditation 1)

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Luke 23:39-43

In 1989, the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference sponsored a tour to what was then the Soviet Union. At that time the USSR was just beginning to open up to the West, in what was called glasnost. After years of oppression of any religion, it was loosening its grip.
I went on that trip, along with a family from Moscow, Idaho – an older couple named C & IP and their son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. When I came here I had forgotten that a family from Moscow had been on that trip, but I. remembered me and we often discussed the trip.
As part of the tour we visited a Russian Orthodox seminary and worshiped at a couple of Orthodox churches. With glasnost, people who had long nurtured seeds of faith underground came out openly. As the priest we talked to at the seminary put it, "My phone is boiling."

One of the things we learned about was the Russian Orthodox cross. Typically, it is shown with three horizontal crossbeams; a short one at the top which represents the plaque posted by the Romans saying, "king of the Jews," the middle one to which Jesus' arms were bound or nailed, and a third one towards the bottom of the cross. Often victims of crucifixion rested their feet on this bottom crossbeam, easing the pressure on their lungs.
What makes a Russian Orthodox cross unique is that this bottom cross bar is slanted. It points to the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus. As we just heard, one of them derided Jesus and the other asked, "Remember me, when you come into your kingdom." In Orthodox teaching, the one who derided Jesus was called Gestus and the crossbar that slanted down pointed to him and to hell. The penitent criminal was known as Dismas and the crosspiece that slanted up pointed to him – and to heaven.
I could quibble a bit about the limitations of saying that down always means hell and up always means heaven. After all, I believe God is everywhere and God is as much present in Hell's Canyon as God is on Mt. Everest. And ever since my trip to what just a year later became known again as Russia, I have found great meaning in the Russian Orthodox Cross and this little story we heard tonight. Only the Gospel of Luke tells it.
"Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom." We sang the penitent criminal's words a moment ago. It was the Apostle Paul who said, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." I haven't stolen anything since I was three years old and took a piece of candy from the story. I got caught and spanked and never done it since. Yes, I have driven above the speed limit a time or two and there was the time I turned the wrong way onto Washington Avenue from the Gritman Medical Center parking lot. Not capital offenses so far – and I know I fall short of the glory of God.
I too am a sinner. Aren't we all? Some perhaps in big ways, more of us in little ways that won't get us arrested and still fall short of the glory of God. Gossip and racism, complaining behind someone's back but failing to address the concern directly with the person involved, lusting in one's heart, greed and materialism – the list could go on. Yes, we fall short of the glory of God.
Tonight, with Dismas, let us turn to Jesus and pray, "Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom."
And the word from the cross we hear now is, "Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." The ancient Persians pictured Paradise as a pleasure garden or hunting ground. Later, Jews thought of it as the abode of the souls of the pious. The early church believed the beautiful garden which had been the home of Adam and Eve before they disobeyed God still exists. We in Moscow call a ridge just south of town Paradise.
Today you will be with me in Paradise. However you picture it, Jesus assurance comes to us tonight. Sinful though we are, we will be with Jesus.
Pray with me now the Orthodox prayer printed in your worship guide: "In the midst, between two thieves, was Your Cross found as the balance beam of righteousness; For while one was led down to hell by the burden of his blasphemy, the other was lightened of his sins unto the knowledge of things divine, O Christ glory to you." Amen.